Sigma Alpha Epsilon latest frat to be shut down at University of Missouri

Tuesday

Mar 13, 2018 at 9:44 PM

Rudi Keller @CDTCivilWar

Sigma Alpha Epsilon closed its University of Missouri chapter Monday, the fifth fraternity to be shut down at MU for a long period in the past two years and the third university chapter closed by the national organization since the beginning of classes in August.

The order closing the chapter for at least four years — or until all current members have graduated or left MU — was because of “multiple health-and-safety violations and an inability to adhere to the national organization’s standards and guidelines,” according a statement from the national Sigma Alpha Epsilon headquarters in Evanston, Ill.

The chapter was placed under a cease-and-desist order by the national fraternity in December, directing it to cease all operations until further notice. At the time, the national fraternity said it was working with MU to gather more information about the health and safety infractions at the chapter house at 24 E. Stewart Road.

“The loss of this group is unfortunate, but suspensions are a critical reminder that adherence to risk management policies and educational programming are crucial to Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s future,” the statement read. “When incidents take place that fail to do so, they affect the entire organization and counteract the importance of our values.”

“When we have determined that the actions were creating a threat to student safety, we have taken the strongest actions that we are able to do, such as dropping recognition of some fraternities and that has happened in the recent past,” he said. “We also have been working diligently with the national organizations and we are very supportive of these recent decisions.”

Through university and national fraternity actions, four chapters have been closed or put on long-term suspension in the past two years.

Kappa Alpha was banned for five years after a freshman, Brandon Zingale, was required to drink so much vodka in a Sept. 27, 2016, hazing that he nearly died of alcohol poisoning. Zingale, who no longer attends MU, is suing the fraternity and the university.

Sigma Pi and Delta Upsilon were suspended for two years after several incidents, including one where a woman fell and hit her head at her dorm after leaving the Delta Upsilon house. The national Sigma Phi Epsilon organization closed its chapter in the fall after several years of violations.

The closure of Sigma Phi Epsilon followed a September assault on two freshmen by pledges. A lawsuit filed last week accuses the national Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, the MU chapter and its president, as well as the two pledges, of negligence and encouraging the assault as a hazing activity. The two pledges are also facing felony charges.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s action came less than a week after the MU Interfraternity Council suspended all new member activities after allegations of hazing at member chapters. The suspension, which will end Monday, came after two fraternities, Farmhouse and Beta Theta Pi, were put on disciplinary probation until Feb. 1, 2019, for hazing incidents in the fall.

When the suspension was announced, 11 Greek organizations were being investigated by MU’s Office of Student Accountability and Support. During the fall semester, 12 Greek organizations were disciplined for violations of student conduct rules. Sigma Alpha Epsilon has not been disciplined by MU during the current academic year.

A consultant’s report delivered to MU in October by Dyad Strategies found poor oversight that created a free-for-all atmosphere in which fraternities and sororities could operate as they pleased with little fear of severe sanctions.

Revoking a group’s recognition as a student organization is the most drastic step MU can take and it does it reluctantly, Basi said. Some fraternities have continued to recruit members despite losing their official status on campus.

“In many cases they are under certain restrictions and in many cases where we have dropped recognition of an organization as a student organization, we have no other action we can take at that time,” Basi said.

The national Sigma Alpha has also closed chapters at the University of Texas-Austin and at the University of Mississippi. In each instance, the national organization cited health and safety concerns as well as violations of national rules.

rkeller@columbiatribune.com

573-815-1709

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